IdiomBody & Senses
Italian
Italianguardarsi alle spalle
Meaning: To remain vigilant and aware of dangers or threats that might come from behind.
Literally: To look behind oneself at the shoulders
Example: “Da quando ha denunciato la truffa, deve guardarsi alle spalle.” — Since he reported the fraud, he has to watch his back.
English equivalent: To watch one's back
Equivalents in other languages
English: watch one's back
Origin: Watching one's back is keeping an eye out for an attack from behind. The Hoepli dictionary defines it as staying on guard against surprise attacks or unforeseen dangers, with the variants proteggersi le spalle and coprirsi le spalle (to cover one's shoulders).
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